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Need a better way to hinge top

2K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  boroughdan 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Wood Floor Flooring House Hardwood


This is a 36"x18" box that will hold a litter box. The top is 3/4" pine I was going to put 4 hinges on the back to hold it on, in mounting it that way when opened it goes a few degrees past vertical. i tested this on some boards with similar dimensions but with more weight. I was a little rough with it but the hinges failed. They just werent thick enough to hold the weight so they were bending above the screw holes. Can you point me to something i can use to hold that top up/keep it from going past vertical so it doesnt stress the hinge…or another idea. Unfortunately i goofed up and the top is only about 1" wider than the box so i have to use small hinges.
 

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#5 ·
Did your hinges fail when you opened it up all the way and then the weight of the lid pulled the screws out? You said the top is one inch bigger than the box so 1/2 on each side. That makes for a lot of leverage when it opens all the way. If the top was the same size as the box, you could mount the hinges so that the top opens all the way, assuming the box is at least as tall as it is wide. This way the hinges would not be stressed.
 
#7 ·
For tops like what you're describing, I've had good luck with using piano hinges, they have screws every 3" or so and given that they will fit into a recess usually cut into the top of one side for a top that you want to stop a little past vertical or into the side of one side for a top that you want to open 180 degrees. cutting the recess into the top, I'll usually cut the bottom of the recess down slowly to get the swing I'm looking for.
 
#11 ·
The strut sounds better than a chain. I know a chain would solve the problem but i dont think i would like the look. So with a strut i could set a max opening? Ideal would be if it could open just past vertical so it would stay open but not so far it stresses the hinges.
 
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